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New Boolc--"Burning an Empire"

What is probably the most thrilling an authoritative book ever written on the subject of great American forest fires has been published by the Macmillan Company, and should be of highest interest to everyone connected with the timber industries.

Entitled, "Burning an Empire," the book was written by Stewart H. Holbrook, who already is widely known for other writings related to the forest industries and the people in them. His newest work includes a foreword by Col. William B. Greeley, secretary-rnanager of the West Coast Lumbermen's Association.

In preparing this book, Mr. Holbrook has gathered the principal facts of all the great fires of American forest history and presented them in a manner that literally will make many a reader's "hair stand on end." In all, he deals with probably a hundred fires, with special chapters devoted exclusively to those known by the names of Hinkley, Cloquet, Miramichi, Peshtigo, Tillamook, and others.

He describes the fires which raged in Idaho, Montana, and Washington in 1910, as "The Milestone Blaze" because it marked a turning point in public apathy and led to adop-

Werobourrr 180 E lVcrhlogl& Dltd. to3 tllcEl.Eg tion of the Weeks Act to provide federal aid for state and private forest owners in maintaining forest protective organizations.

Practically every big fire, he notes, originated from the merging of several smaller fires. Blame, he says, is widespread, but he particularly criticizes such immediate causes as brush burning to clear lands, incendiarism, and such distant causes as the excessive draining of swamp lands.

Progress in fire prevention and control, and in reforestation of burned areas are described in detail, including tlre factor of taxes as an influence discouraging to reforestation in certain instances.

Mr. Holbrook also devotes considerable attention to fire fighting techniques and equipment. Among the most spectacular items he mentions in this category is a device for bombing forest spot fires by airplane with containers of mono-ammonium phosphate, which spreads a fire-extinguishing vapor.

An announcement by the Macmillan Company indicated that "Burning an Empire" would be in general distribution by early in November.

Northwestern Pacific Schedule Chcrnges

The following change in the schedule of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was announced, effective October 17: The train for Eureka leaves San Rafael at 8:00 p.m. instead of 9:00 p.m. and arrives at Eureka at 8:25 a.m. Southbound it leaves Eureka at 7 :ffi p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m. and arrives at San Rafael at7:55 a.m., instead of 6:50 a.m.